Lunch-box.



G. F. MURDOOK.

LUNCH BOX.

' APPLIQATION FILED NOV. 11, 1909.

1,01 3,208. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

. COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c G. F. MURDOGK.

LUNCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1909.

Patented Jan. 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRATII co., WASHINGTON, v. cv

GEORGE F. MURDOCK, OF WELLSVILLE, OHIO.

LUNCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Application filed November 11, 1909. SeriaI No. 527,493.

T all whom it may concern:

simple in its construction, strong,

of the foregoing class in a manner as Be it known that I, GEORGE F. MURDoox, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Wellsville, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lunch-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to lunch boxes of the folding class, and aims to provide ah box ereinafter set forth and claimed with means for retaining the sections of the box in an upright position when it is used for the purpose of storing or carrying a lunch, and although the box is designed primarily as a lunch receptacle, yet it is to be understood that the box is adapted for any purposes wherein it is found applicable.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a folding lunch box which shall be durable, eflicient in its use, readily set up to constitute a receptacle for lunch orother matter, and inexpensive to manufacture.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, modifications and variations can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box in its knocked d own position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the box when set up for use. Fig. 3 is an end view of the box. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box, illustrating a modified form, and, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View of the form of box shown in Fig. 5.

A lunch box in accordance with this invention may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably metal, and comprises a base formed of a bottom 1, a front wall 2, a rear wall 3, an end wall 4 and an end wall 5. Each of the end walls 4, 5, are reinforced at its upper edge as at 6, such reinforcement being had by bending the top of the wall upon itself as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The box further comprises an upper foldable portion including a front member 7 which constitutes a continuation of the front wall 2 of the base when the box is folded for use. The front member 7 is of the same length but of greater height than the front wall 2 and is provided at its inner edge with a pair of sockets 9 formed by bending a portion of the inner edge of said member upon itself. The sockets 9 have interposed therebetween a socket 8 formed at the top of the front wall 2 by rounding the wall at the top. Extending through the sockets 8 and 9, is a pintle 10, whereby the front member 7 is hinged to the front wall 2. The member 7 at each end is bent upon itself to provide a pair-of sockets, the sockets at one end being indicated by the reference character 11, and the sockets at the other end by the reference character 12.

Hinged to each end of the front member 7 is an end member of the same length, but of greater height than an end wall. The end members are designated 13 and 14. Each of the end members has its inner edge bent upon itself to provide a socket and which are indicated 15, 16, the socket 15 being interposed between the sockets 11 and the socket 16 is interposed betweenthe socket-s 12. Extending through the sockets 11 and 15 and through the sockets 12 and 16 is a pintle 17 By the foregoing construction, the end members 13 and 14 are hinged to the front member 7. The end members 13, 14 constitute a continuation of the end walls of the base when the box is folded for use. The upper foldable portion furthermore embodies a rear member 17 a which forms a continuation of the rear wall 3 of the base when the box is folded for use. The rear member 17 a is of the same length but of greater height than the rear wall 3 and is provided at its inner edge with an elongated socket 18 formed by bending portions of the inner edge of the said member 17 upon itself. The sockets 18 have interposed therebetween a socket 19 formed at the top of the rear wall 3 by rounding the wall at its top. Extending through the sockets 18 and 19, is a pintle 20, whereby the rear member 17 'ishinged to the rear wall 2. The member 17 at each end is provided with a rightangularly-disposed flange, the flanges when the box is folded project toward the front thereof and overlap the end members 18, 14.

The flanges are indicated by 21, 22, and have their elongated edges reinforced as at 23, as well as their outer edges as at 24.

The box further includes a hinged cover 25 which has its inner edge formed with a pair of sockets 26 having interposed therebetween a socket 27 formed on the outer edge of the rear member 17*. Extending through the sockets 26 and 27 is a pintle 28 whereby the cover 25 is hinged to the rear member 17. The cover has attached to its outer face a chain 29 forming a handle and further has its outer edges reinforced as at 30. Secured to the outer longitudinal edge of the cover '25 is a latch 31 adapted to have extended therethr'ough a thumb-screw 32, which is carried by the front member 7 and when positioned at right angles with respect to the slot 33 in the latch 31, couples the cover to the front member 7.

The foldable upper portion of the box is maintained in an upright position by the latch 31 and thumb-screw 32, in connection with the thumb-screw 34 carried by the end members and which engage the flanges 21, 22. To provide for the engagement of the thumb-screws 34 with the flanges 21, 22, these latter are formed with longitudinallyextending slots 35 through which the screws 34 project, then by turning the thumb-portion of the screws 34 at right angles with respect to the slot-s 35, the end and front members are coupled to the flanges and with the rear member.

Referring to the Figs. 5 and 6 which show a modified construction, the change resides in utilizing separate plates provided with sockets, the said plates being secured to the front and end members and by such an arrangement the forming of the sockets from an integral portion of the front and end members is dispensed with. The front member in Figs. 5 and 6 is indicated by the reference character 36 and has secured to each end (only one shown) a plate 37 by the holdfast devices 38. The plate 37 reinforces the end of the member and is formed with the sockets 39 and 40, the socket 39 associating with the socket of the front wall 2. The end members in Figs. 5 and 6 are indicated by the reference character 41 and each has secured thereto by the hold-fast devices 42 a plate 43, which reinforces the end members and is formed with a socket 44 associating with the sockets 40 of the plate 37. A pintle 45 extends through the sockets 39 of the plates 37 and the socket of the front wall 2, whereby the front member 36 is hinged to the front wall 2, and a pintle 46 extends through the sockets 44 and 40-, whereby the end members 41 are hinged to the front members 36. Otherwise than that as stated, the construction of the box as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is to be the same as that shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

1. A folding box comprising a bottom, a front wall, a rear'wall, and end walls, said walls being formed integrally with said bottom, a front hinged to said front wall, ends hinged to the ends of said front and adapted when in operative position to rest on said end walls, a rear member hinged to said rear wall, a cover hinged to said rear member, and plates rigidly secured to said ends for reinforcing them and constructed to extend below said end walls in operative position.

2. A folding box comprising a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, and end walls, said walls being formed integrally with said bottom, a front hinged to said front wall, ends hinged to the ends of said front and adapted to rest on said end walls when in operative position, a rear member hinged to said rear wall, integral flanges formed on said rear member and capable of extending below said end walls when in operative position, a cover hinged to said rear member, and means for connecting said flanges to said ends.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. MURDOOK.

WVit-nesses AGNES MURRAY, A. C. MAoBAnE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

